There are three primary ways you can create geodatabases:
- Use a geodatabase XML workspace document to copy an existing geodatabase schema and subsequently load datasets into the copied geodatabase.
- Copy the schema and contents of an existing geodatabase.
- Design and create an empty geodatabase and subsequently define the schema and load datasets into it. For a summary of how to create each type of geodatabase and links to instructions, see the sections below.
For information about designing a geodatabase, see the Data design section of this help system. For information about the different geodatabase dataset types and how to load and create datasets, see Geodatabase dataset types and Create datasets in a geodatabase sections of this help system. For information about accessing geodatabase dataset properties, see the Access and manage geodatabase dataset properties section of this help system.
File geodatabase
You can create a file geodatabase directly in a folder in the Catalog pane or run a geoprocessing tool or script. See Create a file geodatabase for instructions.
Mobile geodatabase
You can create a mobile geodatabase directly in a folder in the Catalog pane or run a geoprocessing tool or script. See Create a mobile geodatabase for instructions.
Enterprise geodatabase
The tool you use to create an enterprise geodatabase varies based on the underlying database management system and type of database user account you use when you run the tool.
Use the Create Enterprise Geodatabase geoprocessing tool to create a geodatabase in Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or PostgreSQL. This tool requires you to provide credentials for a database administrator and geodatabase administrator.
You can use the Enable Enterprise Geodatabase geoprocessing tool to create a geodatabase in an existing database in any of the database types listed below. This is also the tool to use to create a geodatabase in a supported cloud-based database service offering. This tool requires you to provide credentials for the geodatabase administrator.
The ArcGIS client version you use to run either of these tools determines the initial geodatabase version stored in the geodatabase.
Use the following links to access instructions for the database management system you want to use to store your enterprise geodatabase: